This Pumpkin Spice Latte recipe features a homemade spiced pumpkin sauce, espresso, and creamy, frothy milk. It’s a cafe-worthy drink that’s easy to make at home, the perfect fall latte!
Chilly fall mornings were made for this easy Pumpkin Spice Latte recipe. It’s flavored with a homemade spiced pumpkin sauce that elevates the drink into a better-than-the-coffee-shop fall latte. No need to venture out, enjoy this gorgeous drink in the comfort of your pajamas and slippers!
Why We ❤️ This Homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte
Our daughters wait excitedly each fall for the Starbucks pumpkin spice latte to make its grand entrance. I’m pretty sure they’d order this drink year ’round if it was available! Here’s why we like this pumpkin coffee drink recipe:
- Affordable. Going out for coffee drinks is a treat that can definitely add up (💲). So it’s awesome to make our own pumpkin spice lattes at home, to still enjoy those beautiful flavors while also saving money.
- Easy to customize. Part of the beauty of DIY coffee drinks it that you can adjust them however you like. Make it sweeter or less sweet. Amp up the spice. Add a little less milk or a lot more whipped cream!
- Enjoy it anytime. With this recipe, we can drink a pumpkin spice latte whenever we want – in our pj’s, no need to leave the house!
Recipe Ingredients
I’ve included some notes below to help you when you make this recipe. Check the recipe card lower down for the full ingredient amounts.
For the Pumpkin Sauce
- Pumpkin puree – Pumpkin puree is the base of our pumpkin sauce–it adds the earthy pumpkin flavor to our latte.
- Maple sugar – I love the rich flavor of maple sugar but if you can’t find it, this latte is also perfect with light brown sugar or coconut sugar.
- Water – Water helps thin the pumpkin sauce.
- Vanilla extract – Pure vanilla extract enhances the sweetness and flavor of the pumpkin sauce.
- Pumpkin pie spice – Pumpkin pie spice is a combination of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, and allspice that gives the latte its signature warmth and pumpkin pie flavor.
- Ground cardamom – Cardamom adds a floral flavor to the latte that isn’t traditional but is so lovely! If you don’t have cardamom on hand, feel free to skip it.
For One Latte
- Espresso – I use my Nespresso maker to make this latte–my favorite pods are the Scuro and Chairo, but you could use very strong black coffee or a bottled espresso.
- Pumpkin sauce – Start with 2 tablespoons of pumpkin sauce then increase the amount if needed to suit your taste.
- Milk – I use whole milk, but any type of milk, including non-dairy milk, works fine. To froth it, you can use a stand frother, a wand frother, a blender, a french press, or even just a whisk
- Garnish – Whipped cream and cinnamon.
How To Make A Pumpkin Spice Latte
A few simple steps are all that’s needed to make a pumpkin spice latte! I’ve outlined the for you in these photos. Find the detailed instructions in the recipe card lower down.
- Make sauce. Combine all of the sauce ingredients over low heat and simmer to dissolve the sugar.
- Make the latte. Stir together the espresso and pumpkin sauce.
- Heat and froth the milk. Warm the milk until it’s just steaming and froth it for about 20 seconds by carefully shaking it in a jar or using a wand frother.
- Add milk. Pour the frothed milk on top of the espresso.
- Garnish. Add a swirl of whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice, if desired. Fun and so pretty!
Tips for Success
Below, you’ll find a few tips to help you if you don’t have an espresso machine or pumpkin pie spice on hand. You can easily adapt this pumpkin spice latte recipe if needed.
- What if I don’t have an espresso machine? If you don’t have an espresso machine, Nespresso machine, or moka pot for making espresso, pick up a jar of instant espresso and follow the direction on the package to make the espresso. Alternatively, you could use strong coffee in place of the espresso.
- Pumpkin pie spice substitute: If you don’t have pumpkin pie spice in the pantry, you can easily recreate it. Use this simple formula: For one teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice, use a combination of ¾ teaspoon of cinnamon and ¼ teaspoon ginger, nutmeg, cloves, or allspice.
- Adapt the spices. You could also adjust the added spices to do half ground cinnamon and half ground ginger, or even make it an all-ginger latte if you love the spicy taste of ginger.
- Serve it cold. Make an iced pumpkin spiced latte! Don’t heat the milk, then simply pour the latte over a glass of ice and give it a gentle stir to cool the espresso.
- Make it sweeter. For those of us who like a sweeter pumpkin latte, add an additional tablespoon or two of sugar to the pumpkin puree.
Proper Storage
Place the pumpkin sauce in an airtight container like a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid and store it in the fridge for up to 1 week.
More Drink Recipes To Try
Pumpkin Spice Latte
This Pumpkin Spice Latte recipe features a homemade spiced pumpkin sauce, espresso, and creamy, frothy milk. It's a cafe-worthy drink that's easy to make at home, the perfect fall latte!
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Ingredients
For the Pumpkin Sauce
- ½ cup pumpkin puree
- ¼ cup maple sugar, or light brown sugar
- ¼ cup water
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- ¼ teaspoon ground cardamom, optional but delicious
For One Latte
- 2 shots freshly pulled espresso, see notes
- 2 tablespoons pumpkin sauce, or to taste
- ½ cup whole milk
- Whipped cream and cinnamon, for garnish
Instructions
For the Pumpkin Sauce
- Combine all pumpkin sauce ingredients in a small saucepan over low heat. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook for 3 minutes, or until the sugar has dissolved. Remove from heat and cool completely. Store in an airtight container in the fridge until ready to use (up to 7 days).
For The Latte
- In your favorite mug, stir together espresso and pumpkin sauce.
- Heat milk on the stovetop or in the microwave until it is just steaming, about 150℉.
- Froth milk until it develops a ½” thick layer of foam, about 20 seconds using a wand frother – or by very carefully shaking the milk in a mason jar (I recommend wrapping the jar in a towel it will be hot).
- Pour frothed milk over the espresso. Garnish with a swirl of whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon. Enjoy immediately.
Notes
Espresso – I use my Nespresso maker to make this latte – my favorite pods are the Scuro and Chairo, but you could use very strong black coffee or a bottled espresso.
Nutrition Information:
Serving: 1 Calories: 182kcal Carbohydrates: 29g Protein: 4g Fat: 5g Saturated Fat: 3g Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g Cholesterol: 13mg Sodium: 58mg Fiber: 3g Sugar: 24g
Nutrition information is automatically calculated by Spoonacular. I am not a nutritionist and cannot guarantee accuracy. If your health depends on nutrition information, please calculate again with your own favorite calculator.
Did you make this recipe?Please leave a comment below. And share a photo on Instagram with the hashtag #afarmgirlsdabbles or tag @farmgirlsdabble!
This post was originally published in 2012, then updated in 2024.
I have an espresso machine and instead of one cup of hot coffee and the half cup of mix, I use 2 shots of espresso and heat the half cup of mix with a half cup of milk! Thanks so much for the great recipe!! It’s prefect!!
Yum! Trying right now!!
This was excellent, though I will say that if you have a cheap blender, you might want to blend much longer than 30 seconds. I used my Vitamix, about 45 seconds on variable 10, then 15 seconds on high and still got a tiiiiny bit of grittiness. I think a little was from the pumpkin, but mostly from the spice. Next time I’ll do a full minute in the Vitamix on high. Flavor was perfect though! Not too sweet, plenty of spice.
I blended and blended and blended and never could seem to get it very liquidy! It’s a bit of an odd texture in the coffee to me, though the flavor is great. (I will also confess that I had a partial can of pumpkin, so I eyeballed the amounts a bit, so it’s possible my proportions were slightly off…)
Hi Laura! This is not a syrup or cream, and will give a slightly thickened texture to the coffee. It’s not for everyone, as some of the comments relay. But…for those who like the pumped up real pumpkin and spices…it’s been a real hit!
I should have realized that no one who reviewed it had actually made this. The flavor is nice, but I can’t get past the gritty/slightly chunky texture from the pumpkin. I had to strain it out after half a cup.
Puree very very well if you want to try this.
Hello Kris – I’m sorry to hear you weren’t fond of this. Everyone has different likes. This is made from pumpkin puree and is definitely not a flavored creamer or syrup from a bottle. I and my family love this, and that’s the test for what recipes get published here. I’ve also received numerous emails, plus messages on fb and twitter, from people who have fallen in love with this recipe as well. This was just published yesterday by Crystal at Money Saving Mom: http://moneysavingmom.com/2012/10/homemade-pumpkin-spice-latte.html
I also thought this was too textured and not very flavorful. My coffee looked like it curdles when I put this mix in. I have since found a recipe for pumpkin spice syrup that does taste like starbucks.
Wow! I am so excited to try this in the morning! I shamelessly drop my $$ at Starbucks simply because I haven’t found another one that is as good! Way excited to make this! Thanks for posting!!!
This sounds amazing and I cannot wait to try it. The pumpkin spice latte is one of my favorites, but I agree that it just gets too expensive. Thank you so much for this!
Just made this to take to work tonight and I can’t wait to try it! I’m a night shift L&D nurse and we’re always looking for fun, yummy things to keep us awake. Perfect way to welcome October! Thank you for the recipe!
Ok here is the deal…I really don’t like coffee but I absolutely love love love this latte and now I am hooked on it! I substituted skim milk for whole and it tastes terrific. Thank you…and I love your website too.
Now THAT’s a testimony! :) Thanks for coming back to let me know, Joan.
this is great especially doc said stay away from caffiene as much as I can ….thank you
Yum! Sounds so decadent!
I sent this post off to a friend right away…so many fans of Pumpkin Spice Lattes in my group of gals! I’ve been planning an upcoming post for ice cream based on the lattes, think this will be a good place for me to work the recipe from. Thanks for the starting point!
Sounds like a delicious ice cream post!! Thank you so much for sharing, Amy – I appreciate it!
Yum! Pumpkin Spice Latte is one of my fave fall drinks. I wonder if there is a way to make it last longer than a week, I wonder what freezing them in individual servings would do to the texture.
Please let me know if you give it a try!
Yummy, that looks too tempting! And the mug is sooo pretty. What an affordable way of enjoying a favorite drink without the guilt!
I can’t do $4-$5 for a cup of coffee either. Morning coffee need not be boring and this is a wonderful sight and smell to welcome the day!
I used vanilla coconut milk in place of the whole milk and sprinkled mini chocolate chips on top of the whipped cream. Thank you Brenda!
This looks amazing! I love my morning cup of coffee and about a year ago I quit the artificial flavored creamers so my coffees haven’t been as exciting. So its so nice to find a coffee recipe like this!!! Thank you!
Thanks, Jenny – I hope you like it!!
I have been holding on to a can of pumpkin for ever. Wondering what to do with it. Now I know and lucky for me just happened to have a can of condensed milk! Woohoo. Thanks making my 1st latte now. It smells so amazing! Can’t wait.
Thanks, Jill – I hope you liked it!
Whoa, this looks amazing!! I agree with you on how expensive these drinks can be. Thank you for this recipe, I’m going to try it this week!
What a great idea! And such a great cost-saver and don’t have to even get dressed!
I’m the same way about buying coffee, I hate to part with the money. This latte sounds so delicious and easy to make. The ingredients all sound so good together.
Looksk so good! Just might have to try this.